Vice-President Kashim Shettima has underscored the importance of marriage counselling in equipping couples with essential knowledge and skills for building stable homes. He made this assertion during the Muslim Family Summit held in Abuja, with Aliyu Modibbo Umar, Special Adviser to the President on General Duties, representing him.
In a statement released by his spokesperson, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima emphasized the need to return to core family values, which he described as fundamental to national development. These values encompass love and mercy between spouses, maintaining harmony and balance in the home, and viewing marriage as a spiritual commitment and act of worship.
Shettima stressed the significance of kindness, good character, and the pursuit of knowledge and guidance, highlighting the family’s pivotal role in shaping individuals and society. He noted that reinforcing traditional family structures is crucial in addressing Nigeria’s pressing social and economic challenges.
“The mission is more than a reality check—it is a guide, steering us towards embracing marriage not just as a worldly institution but as an act of worship,” he explained.
Drawing on Islamic principles, Shettima reiterated that marriage should serve as a source of tranquillity, positioning the family as the cornerstone of moral and social order in society. He called on the Ummah to guide the current generation of couples and expressed optimism about the gathering of scholars and experts sharing best practices rooted in the Qur’an and Hadith.
He further stated that adherence to these teachings could provide solutions to many social issues facing the nation, cautioning that “when we build the family on the wrong foundation, we risk losing everything. But when we raise it upon sound Islamic principles, it becomes a fortress that preserves the values we hold dear.”